The LGBT community has a lot to celebrate this year: The Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8. Last night at the Gay Pride Parade Kick-Off Rally in New York City, celebrants got a well-deserved treat: Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem. It was her first appearance since her hip surgery in March -- as if she'd been saving herself for this very moment. As you can hear in the video, the crowd was thrilled to have her at the party.

Gaga explained why she is such a passionate ally to the gay community. When she was younger, she felt like an outcast, unaccepted by others. But there was one group who did accept her "for exactly who I am," and that was the gay community. So it was with tremendous love and pride that she spoke and sang before the Gay Pride Parade.

It's my LGBT friends and fans who say to me, 'I knew Lady Gaga when.' Well, look who's the star now. Now I get to say that I knew you when... when you suffered, when you felt unequal, when you felt there was nothing to look forward to. I knew you then, and I knew you when, but I really know you now.

And of course, because she's Lady Gaga, her a capella version of the Star-Spangled Banner is spectacular. Land of the free and home of the brave indeed.